Pioneers get revenge, crush RMC
By Paul Erickson, Sports Information Director
Coming off a 78-77 double-overtime win Thursday night at UW-La Crosse and with a battle for first-place looming Wednesday vs. UW-Whitewater, UW-Platteville could have been excused for overlooking Saturday afternoon's non-conference game vs. Robert Morris-Springfield, right?
"Not at all," said Pioneer center Jeff Skemp, "not after the way we played down there last year. We wanted to definitely avenge that loss from last year and keep our program headed in the right direction."
The Pioneers whipped the Eagles 80-56 in a dominating performance that wiped away all the memories of last year's 82-74 setback in Springfield.
Josh Langenfeld scored 17 points, Skemp 12 and Curt Hanson 11 for the Pioneers, who shot 53 percent from the field. UWP led 37-26 at the half and used a 7-1 run to open the second half and blow the contest open. Langenfeld and Hanson scored baskets, and Skemp scored a layup and converted the free throw for a 44-28 bulge.
The Pioneers led by as many as 20 for most of the final 12 minutes, and Coach Paul Combs was able to get action for all 17 players.
Tim Hahn led the Eagles with 14 points, while Corely Lee had 13, eight below his season average. RMC-Springfield fell to 12-13 overall and 7-4 against NCAA III teams.
UW-Platteville is now 17-4, and the 17th-ranked Pioneers have already turned their attention to Wednesday's showdown with fourth-ranked UW-Whitewater.
"We know the goal at hand," Skemp said. "This game is already over with. We have guys in the locker room talking about Wednesday night already. In the past, I've been around teams that may have celebrated victories, but this team is definitely focused on the next game."
The next game is for the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference lead. The Pioneers and Warhawks are both 10-2 with UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stevens Point just a game behind.
"We got them over there (79-73 on Jan. 23), and they're going to come looking to steal one here," Skemp said. "First place is on the line, and I'm confident we'll get a great crowd and a lot of support. We have to go out, play our style and do what we do best."
The Pioneers are 9-0 on the Bo Ryan Court following Saturday's win.
"It's unbelievable with our fans and the student section here," Skemp said. "All that stuff helps, and it's the little things they do, like offensive rebounding that the crowd gets into it."
The Pioneers are making Wednesday Orange Out Night and asking all fans to wear their orange.
UW-Platteville fans donated $929 during the game in honor of Brianna Klaas, the Pioneer women's basketball player who is battling cancer. The Shoot A Three For Bri fund surpassed $4,500 with Saturday's donation. Bri Klaas presented the game ball in front of a standing ovation.
"That was awesome," Skemp said. "That proves that Platteville is a community and not just about one program. That's great that they embraced the women's program and Bri especially. That was a neat thing."
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